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Best Buy has become the first of the big retailers to remove analog televisions from the shelves. While the company tries to spin the removal as purely a move on behalf of its customers, it plainly sees that it is now the time when analog televisions are not the profit maker they once were, even in the largest sizes. The consumer purchasing in Best Buy will have to look among the high margin digital televisions, and that is the real bottom line.

This move makes the customer purchase the newer digital compliant television, or move on to another store. It also will keep the stores away from any customer service problems, as no one will be buying an analog television, only to find that it has to be augmented with a black box come February 2009.

No longer will best buy have to use signs at each of the analog televisions, indicating that the units days are numbered as a stand - alone device. No chance of the nasty fines levied by the FCC.

these are definitely easier to lug home, as most newer televisions are much lighter than their CRT brethren

The company also announced that they will participate in the NTIA DTV Converter Box Coupon Program to help people purchase digital converter boxes for their analog televisions. Coupon-eligible converter boxes will be available in Best Buy stores beginning in early 2008, in time with the phase-out of American terrestrial analog TV broadcasts.

No word on whether other analog - only devices, such as TiVo digital video recorders, and any remaining VCRs will also be removed.

No more analog televisions at the blue box stores!

Competitor Circuit City will not be pulling ‘old fashioned’ televisions just yet, instead going with the education program mandated by the FCC, with clear signs at each analog television, and the mention of the coupons being given through governmental decree, which take $40 dollars from the cost of the set top boxes needed to make the televisions useful after February’s deadline in 2009, with terrestrial broadcasting.

Sports fans are really rewarded when moving to HD, or just digital television.

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